Shop opening hours deregulated

Restrictions on the opening hours of retail shops and hairdressing establishments were lifted at the beginning of 2016. Business owners are free to decide when they keep their shops open, and they no longer need to apply for special exemptions from opening hour regulations.

Business owners operating in shopping centres or similar concentrations of shops still have the right to keep their shops closed one day each week, on the day of their choice. However, the right does not apply during those weeks when the agreement binding on the business owner provides that the shopping centre or similar concentration of shops is open on fewer than seven days.

The above-mentioned right only applies to business owners whose shops regularly have no more than five employees. The provision on business owners’ right to keep their shops closed is included in the Unfair Business Practices Act (1061/1978).